Journal box lubricator



y 3, 1956 w. J. SOCKELL OURNAL BOX LUBRICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1955 IN VENTOR 6'3 W.JSockeZZ ATTORNEY United States Patent JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATOR William J. Sockell, Raleigh, N. C. Application May 11, 1955, Serial No. 507,549

7 Claims. (Cl. SOS-88) This invention relates to a novel lubricator for journal boxes of railway rolling stock and has for its primary object to provide an improved lubricant applicator adapted to be mounted in conventional journal boxes of railway rolling stock for supplying the lubricant, contained in the bottom portion or well of the journal box, to a portion of the wheel axle or shaft which engages the bearing of the journal box.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a journal box lubricator constituting an improvement on my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,657,959, also entitled Journal Box Lubricator, which issued on November 3, 1953.

it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of lubricator which may be very readily applied to a journal box for engagement with an axle portion disposed rotatably in the journal box, and which is so constructed that the lubricator will be effectively maintained immovably in the journal box irrespective of the direction of rotation of the axle relative thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lubricator having a pad of novel construction which is devoid of loose strings which constitute a common cause of hot boxes.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1i-l of Figure 2, showing the lubricator disposed in a journal box;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the journal box, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the lubricator in cross section in an operative position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, partly in bottom plan, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the lubricator as it would appear fiat;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, on a reduced scale, of the lubricator pad, shown removed from the remainder of the lubricator;

Figured is an end elevational view of one part of the lubricator, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the journal box lubricator in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 8 and includes a body portion, designated generally 9. The body portion 9 is formed of two pieces of rigid material, such as sheet metal, including a piece forming an inner part or pad retainer, designated generally it and an outer piece constituting a jacket, designated generally 11. The inner part or pad retainer 10 is substantially semicylindrical 2,753,228 i' atented July 3, 1956 in cross section, as seen in Figures 2 and 5, and is provided with downturned flanges at the ends thereof including an inner end flange 12 and an outer end flange 13.

The outer body section or jacket 11 includes a bottom portion 14 and substantially parallel side edge portions, forming side walls 15 and 16. As best seen in Figure 2, said side walls 15 and 16 are disposed substantially parallel to one another and at substantially right angles to the bottom portion 14. The jacket 11 also includes downwardly and inwardly inclined corresponding walls 117 which extend between and are integrally joined with the bottom edges of the side walls and the longitudinal side edges of the bottom 14. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the jacket 11 is of a length less than the length of the pad retainer re and is disposed beneath or on the outer side of the retainer 1i and with the ends thereof spaced inwardly from the end flanges 12 and 13. The bottom portion 14 is disposed beneath and bears against the longitudinal central portion of the pad retainer 10 and the upper portions of the side walls 15 and in bear against the outer sides of the side edge portions of the retainer iii and are secured thereto by suitable fastenings such as rivets iii. The bottom portion 14 is secured to the bottom central portion of the retainer iii by at least one fastening such as a rivet 19. As best seen in Figure 3, the bottom 14 is provided with longitudinally and laterally spaced elongated slots or openings 20 which are disposed longitudinally thereof. The retainer it is pro vided with similar openings 21 which register with the openings MB.

A pair of bottom coil springs 22 are disposed against and secured to the underside of the bottom 14, one adjacent each end thereof. An inner end convolution 23 of each spring 22 abuts against the underside of the bottom 14 and is secured thereto by loops 24, each formed by a folded metal strap member the intermediate portion of which forms a loop for receiving a part of the con volution 23 and the end portions of which are secured together and to the bottom 14 by a fastening 25. A similar pair of expansion coil springs 26, constituting side springs, are secured to and project outwardly from each of the side walls 15 and 1.6. The springs 26 likewise have an inner convolution 27 thereof secured to either the wall 15 or 16 by additional loop members as.

Each of the walls 14, 15 and 16 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced struck-out tongues 28 which are normally disposed within the springs 22 or 26 of said wall, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. The outer free ends of the tongues 28 are disposed in alignment each with the other tongue of the same wall 14, 15 or 16 and are provided with complementary openings 29.

The journal box lubricator 8 also includes an applicator pad, designated generally 30, of unique construction. The pad 3b is of knitted wool construction which is lapped or folded. The overlapping portions or" the pad 3b are secured together by fabric tapes 31 which extend longitudinally of the folded pad and are disposed against the underside thereof and secured to the plies of the pad by stitching 32. The tapes 31, as seen in Figure 4, are spaced transversely from one another and from the longitudinal side edges of the laminated pad. End portions of the knitted strip, constituting the pad 30 and forming a part of the bottom ply thereof, are slit longitudinally to form longitudinally spaced unsecured parts of the pad which are disposed between the tapes 31 and which provide wicks 33 which are dis osed in l0n itudinaliy spaced, transversely staggered relation to one another.

The underside 34 of the pad 39 is disposed on the upper, concave side of the pad retainer 10 and the wicks 33 extend downwardly through the registering openings or slots 20 and 21 and outwardly between convolutions of the springs 22, as best seen in Figure 2. The side edge portions of the pad 30, which are disposed outwardly with respect to the tapes 31, form longitudinally extending loop portions 35 which are disposed adjacent the upper longitudinal side edge portions of the pad retainer 1%. Anelongated strip of metal, ferming an anchoring strip 36, is disposed in and extends longitudinally of each loop portion 35 and is secured to the pad retainer 14) by a pair of the fastenings 18 for detachably clamping the longitudinal side edges of the pad to the longitudinal side edges of the retaining member 10.

The springs 22 and 26 taper in diameter from their end convolutions toward their center convolutions and constitute relatively weak springs. The aligned springs 22 and 26 are adapted to be compressed so that retaining wires 37 can be passed through the tongue openings 29 to hold the springs 22 compressed between one of the retaining wires 37 and the bottom 14 and to hold the aligned springs 26 compressed between other of the retaining wires 37 and the walls 15 and 16, in the manner as illustrated in Figure 1. The retaining wires 37 have complementary hook shaped ends 38.

For the purpose of illustrating the application and use of the lubricator 8, a conventional journal box 39 of the type used for railway rolling stock is illustrated in Figures l and 2. The journal box 39 has an inner end wall 40 provided with an opening 41 through which a portion of a wheel axle or shaft 42 extends and in which said axle portion is rotatably disposed. The axle 42 has a restricted portion 43 disposed within the journal box 39. A bearing 44 is disposed in the upper part of the journal box 39 and bears on said restricted portion 43. A wedge 45 is disposed in the journal box between the bearing 44 and the top wall 46 of the journal box. The outer end wall 47 of the journal box 39 has a relatively large opening 48 in the upper part thereof, normally closed by a hinge closure, not shown. The bottom portion of the journal box 39 contains a lubricant, such as oil, normally up to approximately the level as indicated by the broken line 49 in Figures 1 and 2. A conventional oil seal 50 is disposed against the inner side of the inner wall 40 and around the axle 42. The journal box 39 has substantially parallel side wall portions 51 and a bottom 52 which is disposed nearly at a right angle to the side wall portions 51 and which is provided with an upper side which is slightly concave in cross section, as seen in Figure 2.

To apply the lubricator 8 to the journal box 39, it is merely necessary to jack up the journal box to relieve the load supported thereby from the axle portion 43, so that the wedge 45 and bearing 44 can be removed. The lubricator 8, with the springs thereof held compressed by the wires 37, can then be inserted between the axle portion 43 and the top wall 46, with the lubricator in an inverted position, relative to its position as seen in Figure 2. The journal box 39 will have been displaced upwardly slightly relative to the axle 42 so that adequate clearance will be afforded for the lubricator, between the axle portion 43 and the top wall 46, especially since the pad 30 can be compressed. Obviously, the flange 12 will constitute the leading end of the lubricator as it is applied. Accordingly, the end portions of said flange 12 are cutaway or beveled, as seen at 53 so as not to protrude outwardly beyond the side walls 15 and 16 to enable the applicator 8 to be more easily applied. The applicator 8 is then turned about the axle portion 43 to a position therebeneath, as seen in Figure 1, after which the bearing 44 and wedge 45 are replaced in the journal box 39, and the journal box is thereafter lowered to a position to be supported by the axle 42. A suitable tool, not shown, having a hook thereon is then engaged with the hook shaped ends 38 of the wires 37, which are located beyond the outer end flange 13 to remove said retaining wires 37 through the opening 48. The wires 37 are sufficiently resilient so that the wires will flex sufliciently to pass upwardly on the inner side of the end wall 47 and after disengagement trom the tongues 28 which are located adjacent the flange 12, are capable of rocking relatively to the other tongues 28 to enable said wires to assume positions more nearly in alignment with the opening 48. It will be readily apparent that after removal of the wires 37, that the springs 22 and 26 will assume positions as seen in Figure 2 with the outer convolutions of the bottom springs 22 resting on the upper side of the bottom 52 and the outer convolutions of the springs 26 bearing substantially flush against the side wall portions 51. As thus disposed, the springs 22 are positioned with their axes in substantially vertical planes while the axes of the springs 26 are disposed substantially in horizontal planes. Thus, the springs 22 and 26 will exert radial thrusts inward against the body member 9 to hold the pad retainer 10 in a position substantially concentrically around the bottom half of the axle portion 43 and so that the pad 30 will bear substantially uniformly against the lower half of said axle portion 43. Additionally, the springs 26 will effectively function to prevent the lubricator 8 from shifting relative to the journal box 39 and axle 42 from its position of Figure 2. As it can be readily seen in Figure 2, the wicks 33 extend downwardly from the bottom 14 into the lubricant contained in the bottom of the journal box 39 and so that the lubricant is carried by capillary attraction to and through the pad 30 to be picked up by the axle portion 43, substantially uniformly from end-to-end thereof. The construction of the pad 30, as previously described, will efiectively prevent any loose strings therefrom contacting the bearing 44 which would tend to cause a hot box. Further, the pad will function equally as eflicient irrespective of the direction of rotation of the axle 42. The cotton tapes 31 prevent stretching of the pad when saturated with the lubricant and the anchoring strips 36 prevent movement of the pad transversely with respect to the retainer 10.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A journal box lubricator comprising an elongated body member including an inner pad retainer section and an outer jacket section, said pad retainer being of arcuate cross section and being adapted to be disposed in a journal box and substantially concentrically around the underside of a portion of a wheel axle, a pad disposed in and lining the concave upper side of the pad retainer and adapted to be supported thereby in engagement with said axle portion, said body member having a plurality of openings, said pad including a plurality of wick elements extending downwardly therefrom through said openings and adapted to be submerged in a lubricant contained in the bottom portion of the journal box; said jacket being disposed around and immovably connected to the pad retainer and having a substantially flat bottom and substantially flat side walls, said side walls being disposed at substantially right angles to the jacket bottom, a pair of bottom expansion coil springs having upper ends secured to said jacket bottom and having lower ends adapted to rest on a bottom portion of the journal box, and a pair of side expansion coil springs secured to each of the jacket side walls and extending outwardly therefrom and having outer ends adapted to bear substantially flush against the side walls of the journal box, said bottom and side springs being disposed adjacent the ends of the body member and being adapted to cooperate with one another and with the journal box to maintain the body member in a centered position in the journal box and beneath a portion of the wheel axle and for yieldably maintaining an inner side of said pad in yieldable engagement with the wheel axle portion.

2. A journal box lubricator as in claim 1, said bottom and side walls of the jacket contacting circumferentially spaced portions of the pad retainer, and means securing said jacket walls to the outer side of the pad retainer.

3. A journal box lubricator as in claim 1, said jacket bottom and side walls having struck-out tongues extending into said coiled springs and having apertured outer end portions, said tongues each being of a length substantially less than the normal operative length of the coil springs, and retaining wires extending slidably through the apertures of the aligned tongues of said jacket walls and bearing against outermost convolntions of said springs for maintaining the springs substantially fully compressed and with the outer convolutions thereof located adjacent the jacket to facilitate application of the lubricator to the journal box.

4. A journal box lubricator as in claim 1, said pad being of knitted wool construction comprising a plurality of overlapping and partially overlapping plies, fabric tapes disposed against a bottommost play of the pad and secured to a plurality of said plies, said tapes extending longitudinally of the pad and being laterally spaced from one another and from the side edge portions of the pad.

5. A journal box lubricator as in claim 4, the bottom ply of said pad having a plurality of unsecured extensions disposed between said tapes and forming narrow stn'ps constituting said wicks, said wicks being disposed in longitudinally spaced laterally staggered relation relative to the pad.

6. A pad as in claim 5, said tapes cooperating with the plies of said pad to form loop portions constituting the side edge portions of the pad and extending from end-to-end of the pad, anchoring strips disposed in said loop portions and extending longitudinally of the pad, and fastening means securing said anchoring means to the body member to prevent movement of the pad relative to the pad retaining section.

7. A journal box lubricator as in claim 1, said pad retainer section having outturned end flanges disposed beyond the ends of said jacket, one of said end flanges, constituting the inner end of said body member, having beveled ends to facilitate applying the lubricator to the journal box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,959 Sockell Nov. 3, 1953 

